The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-09-15
q A. McGREGOR ABROAD.
Trips to Iuverary and ROthssay-Ths
Duke Of Argyll.
The Tenants and Crofters-The Highland
Games-ROthssay Castle-The Martyrs
BonDy Muir and Baird and
Hardie-Thomas Muir ard His
Fellow Patriots In 1705,

Trips and excursions are in order these
davs on the Clyde and by railway and
other modes. On Tuesday, the 10th,
was an excursion to Tnverary, at the
upper extremity of Loeb Fyne, 80 or 40
miles long and where the finest herrings
are caught in great quantities.
The trip from Dunoon was about 80
miles or over and cost two shillings, so
cents, going and returning. The steamer
stopped at Rothesay and other points on
the way and was crowded with over 700
passengers.
The route is very romantic, as it
passed through the Kyles of Butte and
then up Loeb Fyne, equally interesting
in many respects, These lofty, heathery
mountains and hills are ever full of
interest. Now and then is seen an
occupied modern castle or palace, but
far more frequently along the shore are
seen the lowly matched cottage, where
an American can hardly understand how
the occupants can manage to live at all,
let alone exist, and pay rent. Yet, says
Robert Burns:
Buirdly chiefs and clever hizzies,
Are bred in sic wy as this is.
Inverary is the county seat of Argyll
shire and but small place, about 1000
inhabitants. The palace of the Duke of
Argyll is located here and the fine
grounds were thrown open to the public,
and having two hours to stay the time
was improved, after dinner, by walking
through the grounds, and admiring these
and the mountain peaks near by.
a monument has been here erected to
several members of the clan Campbell,
who shared with their chief the disas-
trous consequences of Monmouth's rising,
and who were massacred near the spot in
1885. The palace is a massive quadran-
gular building built over a century ago.
The Duke had got home a day or two
before, and as we were returning to our
boat he had just got back from a sail
with his two daughters, young ladies,
and his son, Lord Colin. The Duke is a
good looking old gentleman of about 70
years, and no doubt kindly disposed, but
is now unpopular owing to his joining
the Tories few years ago, and his suf-
fering tenantry and crofters. His ex
pensive and extravagant family, with
his position as one of the nobility,
requires an enormous income, and hence
the efforts to continue to collect his, now
unreasonable and horrible rents.
This struggle for existence is by no
means confined to the crofters. Other
classes are in suffering condition ow-
ing to the depression of trade, and the
continuation of high rents fixed in more
prosperous times. The Scotch, however,
are an enterprising and resolute people,
Their situation and circumstances make
them so. They are proverbial for indus
try, and in their hard northern cline and
mountainous country it is a constant
struggle. One may well wonder at what
they have done, and at their great
wealth as seen in their works, ships, rail-
ways, palaces, villas, stone cottages, etc.
Thousands are daily taking trips, Sun
days excepted, as may be seen by the
crowded steamers, forty-nine of which
stop daily at Dunoon pier.
On Thursday, the 18th, we went to
Rotehsay, island of Butte, the fine steamer
being crowded with passengers. The
attraction was the Highland games. They
were held in good sized field, sixpence
admission being charged, and an
other sixpence after for a seat.
There were not less than three
thousand spectators. Prizes were
competed for, being money and medals.
Six competitors played on the bagpipes,
of course in the old Highland garb; dane
ing the highland fling; the sword dance;
throwing the hammer, heavy and light;
walking; running; wrestling, sc. The
Rothesay instrumental band discoursed
good music. Some piper played for the
dances. The occasion was one of inter-
est, and the competitors certainly accom-
plished. The hammer" thrown seemed
to bean iron ball with handle three or
four feet long. The thrower stands with
his back to the direction the hammer is
to be thrown, and after swinging it six or
eight times with both hands around his
head, lets it fly. One man threw it los
feet 8 inches, the next 106 feet inches,
the third 81 feet 7 inches, all getting
prizes accordingly.
Rothesay is place of great resort and
for tourists to visit, as here is one of the
old and celebrated castles, royal resi-
dence in the the time of Robert ii and
Robert III. the latter dying there in
1406.
Tourists usually hurry around, merely
taking sight of localities, generally the
same. Seldom do they take time to
learn anything about the people, which
latter one might think was worthy of
some attention. The winter season
would probably be best for coming in
contact with the people, as then they are
housed up by the weather and the short
days, and sociability is more cultivated.
There is quite a noticeable difference
between the length of summer days here
and with us. In fact, during the longest
days the sun is only six hours below the
horizon and then not for. In the winter
it is Just reversed, as then, during the
shortest days they have only six hours of
sunlight. On Saturday, August 20, the
sun rose at 4.55 a. m. and set at 7.3S p m.
Of course the days are now rapidly short
ening, for by September 20 equal day
and night will prevail, being the autumn
al equinox.
The summer is the out of door time for
the Scotch, and they improve and enjoy
it. Holidays are taken by localities va
riously, and trades, in Glasgow for in
stance, as also in other towns, shut up
their stores and shops and go off for a
day down the Clyde or to the mountains
and lakes. Then individuals get their
vacation. have made the acquaintance
of Mr.. James Hart, cashier for many
years of large firm in Glasgow, and he
gets his three or four weeks vacation,
spending it this year in Dunoon, where
his family spent good part of the sea-
son. Mr.. Hart is a thorough Democrat,
active in the Liberal organization, occa-
dashing off some rhyme to suit
the occasion. have broken bread with
him and expect to again. Such thorough
going, outspoken Democratic Liberals as
Mr.. Hart are, judge, are quite common
in Scotland.
Mr.. Hart WAS telling me of q relative